All vessels without a registered office in the Cayman Islands must have a representative person resident in the Islands.  In the case where a vessel has multiple owners, they must appoint one of them who is resident in the Islands as managing owner or appoint a representative person.  Prior to the current Merchant Shipping Law, vessels under 24m in length were exempted, now they are not.

On or before accepting to act, a representative person should carry out the same due diligence as though he or she were screening a client or company registered in the Cayman Islands in accordance with the codes of practice developed by the local professional associations. In addition to the statutory notification of appointment of a representative person by the owner, the appointee should supply to the CISR a letter accepting to act in this capacity.  The letter of acceptance to act as representative person should also acknowledge the obligation to carry out due diligence screening on the client. 

A representative person must maintain a means of access to the owner, manager if so appointed, and to the vessel and carry out directives or instructions given by the Director in respect of the vessel he or she represents.  The term “owner” here includes, managing owner, demise charterer, any disponent owner or any person in effective operation and control of the vessel.  The representative person should also maintain current 24-hour contact information in respect of the vessel.  This should include a copy of the EPIRB registration form, all the dial up communication numbers for the vessel and any subsequent change in contact details.  The purpose is to be able to respond quickly in the event of an incident, especially where safety of life and search and rescue services are involved.

The representative person is required to report to the CISR within 24 hours if he has reason to believe that the vessel he represents has sustained or caused any accident occasioning loss of life or any serious injury to any person or has sustained any material damage affecting its seaworthiness or its efficiency, either in its hull or its machinery.  Failure to do so is an offence.

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